The Sweethoven Biotech research project, based at the Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology (IFMB), was awarded first place in the 2025 UGB Transfer Prize. The University Society of Bonn (UGB) thus recognized the outstanding transfer achievement of the team led by Dr. Marcel Hövels and Dr. André Neff, which is developing innovative biotechnological processes for the production of healthier, prebiotic sugar alternatives.
The jury particularly emphasized the high social relevance of the project and the exceptional scaling potential of the research. Sweethoven Biotech impressively demonstrates how basic university research can lead to concrete innovations that contribute to a more sustainable and health-conscious diet.
As part of the validation project funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), the team will work over the next three years to transfer its enzyme technology from the laboratory to the pilot scale. The goal is to bring novel fiber-based sweeteners to market that combine the taste and functionality of classic sugars with the positive effects of prebiotic fibers.